GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Feb. 27, 2014) — Another overnight dump of snow meant for trouble in the morning commute again.
Slide-offs were reported even before 5 a.m. as drivers encountered snow-covered pavement on just about every road, from expressways to city streets.
Some stretches of road were crazier than others: multiple slide-offs and a rollover punctuated the drive on I-196 between Hudsonville and Zeeland; numerous slide-offs on US-131 between Wayland and the Kent County line prompted the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department to email a plea for drivers to slow down; slide-offs were common, sometimes multiple vehicles at the same time, on 120th Avenue in Ottawa County between James Street and Tyler Street.
Highways were closed by crashes, too. M-37 was closed shortly after 6 a.m. between Newaygo and Grant after a multi-car crash at 104th Street. Dispatchers reported white-out conditions at the time. US-131 northbound was closed in Kalamazoo at M-43/W. Main Street due to a rollover. Even Patterson Avenue in Kentwood was closed due to a car-semi crash at 50th Street.
Conditions were not expected to improve as the day went on. High winds were forecast throughout the day, which can either cause snow to drift into travel lanes or turn to ice under the wheels of passing vehicles.
